Condenser cooling system and method including solar absorption chiller

Abstract

A system configured to thermally regulate exhaust portions of a power plant system (e.g. steam turbine) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: a condenser adapted to connect to and thermally regulate exhaust portions of a steam turbine; and a cooling system operably connected to the condenser and adapted to supply a cooling fluid to the condenser, the cooling system including a solar absorption chiller adapted to adjust a temperature of the cooling fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a condenser adapted to connect to and thermally regulate exhaust portions of a steam turbine; and 
 a cooling system operably connected to the condenser and adapted to supply a cooling fluid to the condenser, the cooling system including:
 a solar absorption chiller adapted to adjust a temperature of the cooling fluid; 
 a cooling tower upstream of the solar absorption chiller; 
 a solar field connected with the solar absorption chiller and adapted to supply a solar field working fluid to the solar absorption chiller; 
 a cold sink connected with the solar absorption chiller and adapted to store energy obtained from the solar field working fluid; and 
 
 a computing device including a cooling control system, the computing device connected with the cooling system, the steam turbine and the condenser, wherein the cooling control system is configured to:
 determine whether there is a high demand or a low demand for cooling fluid at the condenser, 
 in response to the high demand for cooling fluid, directing cooling fluid to flow from the condenser back to the cooling system to be re-cooled, and 
 in response to the low demand for cooling fluid, reducing a flow rate of the cooling fluid and directing the solar field working fluid to the cold sink. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar absorption chiller is adapted to generate ice. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger connected to the solar absorption chiller and adapted to transfer energy between a solar field working fluid and the cooling fluid. 
     
     
       4. A combined cycle power generation system comprising:
 a gas turbine; 
 a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) operably connected to the gas turbine; 
 a steam turbine operably connected to the HRSG; 
 at least one generator operably connected to at least one of the gas turbine or the steam turbine; 
 a condenser operably connected to the steam turbine; and 
 a cooling system operably connected to the condenser and adapted to supply a cooling fluid to the condenser, the cooling system including a solar absorption chiller adapted to adjust a temperature of the cooling fluid,
 a cooling tower upstream of the solar absorption chiller; 
 a solar field connected with the solar absorption chiller and adapted to supply a solar field working fluid to the solar absorption chiller; 
 a cold sink connected with the solar absorption chiller and adapted to store energy obtained from the solar field working fluid; and 
 
 a computing device including a cooling control system, the computing device connected with the cooling system, the steam turbine and the condenser, wherein the cooling control system is configured to:
 determine whether there is a high demand for the cooling fluid or a low demand for the cooling fluid at the condenser, 
 in response to the high demand for the cooling fluid, directing the cooling fluid to flow from the condenser back to the cooling system to be re-cooled, and 
 in response to the low demand for the cooling fluid, reducing a flow rate of the cooling fluid and directing the solar field working fluid to the cold sink. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The combined cycle power generation system of  claim 4 , wherein the solar absorption chiller is adapted to generate ice. 
     
     
       6. The combined cycle power generation system of  claim 4 , further comprising a heat exchanger connected to the solar absorption chiller and adapted to transfer energy between a solar field working fluid and the cooling fluid. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the cooling fluid is adjusted or maintained by the cooling tower. 
     
     
       8. The combined cycle power generation system of  claim 4 , wherein a temperature of the cooling fluid is adjusted or maintained by the cooling tower. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling system includes a sensor adapted to monitor the flow rate of the cooling fluid through cooling system. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the control system determines whether there is a high demand or a low demand for the cooling fluid based upon the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the cooling system. 
     
     
       11. The combined cycle power generation system of  claim 4 , wherein the cooling system includes a sensor adapted to monitor the flow rate of the cooling fluid through cooling system. 
     
     
       12. The combined cycle power generation system of  claim 11 , wherein the control system determines whether there is a high demand or a low demand for the cooling fluid based upon the flow rate of the cooling fluid through the cooling system.